The Democratic advocate., 1887-12-10

IarIner as wei as 10 lne manuidctuIeF anu
merchant; nor is any mention made of the fact
that the sheep owners themselves and their
households, must wear clothing and use other
articles manufactured from the wool they sell
at tariff prices, and thus as consumers must
return their share of this increased price to
the tradesman.
think it may be fairly assumed that large
proportion of the sheep owned by the farmers
throughout the country are found in small
focks numbering from twenty-five to fifty.
The duty on the grade of imported wool which
these sheep yield is ten cents each pound if
of the value of thirty cents or less, aud twelve
cents if of the value Of more than thirty cents
If the liberal estimate of six pounds be allow
ed for each fleece, the duty thereon would be
sixty or seventy-two cents, and this may be
taken as the utmost enhancement of its price
10 the farmer by reason of this duty. Eigh-
teen dollars would thus represent the increas-
ed price of the wool from twenty-five sheep,
and at thirty six dollars that from the wool
of fifty sheep, and at present values this ad-
dition would amount to about one-third of its
price. Ifupon its sale the farmer receives
this or less tariff profit, the wool leaves his
hands charged with precisely that sum, which
in all its charges will adhere to it, until it
reaches the consumer. When manufactured
into cloth and other goods and material for
use, its cost is not only increased to the ex-
tent of the farmers tariff profit, but further
sum has been added for the benefit of the
manufacturer under the operation of other
tariff laws. In the mean time the day arrives
when the farmer finds it necessary to purchase
wooden goods and material to clothe himself
and family for the winter. When he faces
the tradesman for that purpose he discovers
that he is obliged not only to return in the
way of increased prices, his tariff profit on the
wool he sold, and which then perhaps lies
before him in manufactured form, but that he
must add considerable sum thereto to meet
further increase in cost caused by a tariff
duty on the manufacture. Thus in the end
he is aroused to the fact that he has paid upon
moderate purchase, as result of the tariff
scheme, which, when he sold his wool SEEM
ed so profitable, an increase in price more
than sufficient to sweep away all the tariff
profit he received upon the wool he produced
and sold.
When the number of farmers engaged in
wool raising is compared with all the farmers
in the country, and the small proportion they
bear to our population is considered; when it
is made apparent that, IN the case of a large
part of those who own sheep, the benefit of
the present tariff on wool is illusory, and,
above all, when it must be conceded that the
increase of the cost of living caused by such
tariff becomes burden upon those with
moderate means and the poor, the employed
and unemployed, the sick and well, and the
young and old, and that it constitutes a tax
which, with relentless grasp, is fastened upon
the clothing of every man, woman and child
in the land, reasons are suggested why the re-
moval or reduction of this duty should be in
cluded in revision of our tariff laws.
COST TO CONSUMERS.
In speaking of the increased cost to the
consumer of our home manufacturers, result
ing from duty laid upon imported articles of
the same description, the fact is not overlooked
that competition among our domestic produ-
GERS sometimes has the effect of keeping the
price of their products below the highest limit
allowed by such duty. But it is notorious
that this competition is too often strangled by
combinations quite prevalent at this time, and
frequently called trusts, which have for their
object the regulation of the supply and price
of commodities made and sold by members of
the combination. The people can hardly
hope for any consideration in the operation
of these selfish schemes.
If, however, in the absence of such COM
bination, a healthy and free competition re-
duces the price of any particular dutiable
article of home production below the limit
which it might otherwise reach under our tariff
laws, and if, with such reduced price, its
manufacture continues to thrive, it is entirely
evident that one thing has been discovered
which should be carefully scrutinized in an
effort to reduce taxation.
The necessity of combination to maintain
the price of any commodity to the tariff point
furnishes proof that some one is willing to
accept lower prices for such commodity, and
that such prices are remunerative; and lower
prices produced by competition prove the
same thing. Thus where either of these con-
ditions exist, q case would seem to be pre-
sented for an easy reduction of taxation. ?
The considerations which have been pre-
sented touching our tariff lays are intended
only to enforce an earnest Recommendation
that the surplus revenues of the government
Be prevented by the reduction of our customs
duties, and, at the same time, to emphasize q
suggestion that in accomplishing this purpose
we may discharge double duty to our peo-
pie by granting to them measure of relief
from tariff taxation in quarters where it is
most needed and from sources where it can be
most fairly and justly accorded.
Nor can the presentation made OF such con-
siderations be, with any degree of fairness,
regarded as evidence of unfriendliness toward
our manufacturing interests, or of any lack of
of their value and Importance.
These interests constitute a leading and
most substantial element of our national
greatness and furnish the proud proof of our
progress. But if in the emergency
that presses upon US our manufacturers are
asked to surrender something for the public
good and to avert disaster their patriotism,
as well as grateful recognition of advantages
already afforded, should lead them to willing
- i Al al.
shall forego all the benefits of governmental
regard; but they cannot fail to be admonished
of their duty as well as their enlightened
elf.interest and safety, when they are remind
ed of the fact that financial panic and col
lapse, to which the present condition tends,
afford no greater shelter or protection to our
than to our other important
enterprises. Opportunity for safe, careful
and deliberate reform is now offered, and
none of us should be unmindful of the time
when the abused and irritated people, needless
of those who have resisted timely and reason.
able relief, may insist upon a radical and
sweeping rectifcation of their wrongs.
DIFFICULTY OF REVISING THE TARIFF.
The difficulty attending a wise and fair re-
vision of our tariff laws is not understood.
1t will require on the part of Congress great
labor and care, and especially a broad and
national contemplation of the subject, and
patriotic disregard of such local and selfish
claims as are unreasonable and reckless of the
welfare of the entire country.
Under our present laws more than four
articles are subject to duty. Many
of these do not in any way compete with our
own manufacturers, and many are hardly
worth attention as subjects of revenue. A
considerable reduction can be made in the
aggregate, by adding to them a free list. The
taxation of luxuries presents no features of
hardship; but the necessaries of life used and
consumed by all the people, the duty upon
which adds to the cost of living in every
home, should be greatly cheapened.
The radical reduction of the duties imposed
upon raw material used in manufactures, or
its free importation, is of course an important
factor in any effort to reduce the price of
these necessaries; it would net only relieve
them from the increased cost caused by the
tariff on such material, but the manufactured
product being thus cheapened, that part of
The tariff now laid upon snch product, as a
to our manufacturers for the
present price of raw material, could be ac-
cordingiy modified. Such reduction, or free
would serve beside to largely
reduce the revenue. 1t is not apparent how
such n chanpe can have anv iniu rions effnct